Hello all, I have a problem that I could use some advice/help with. I am in the Marine Corps and Stationed at Camp Pendleton. I was priveleged enough to start a powerlifting team here on Pendleton and have even been granted a budget to pay for equipment, clothing, travel etc....

The MArine corps seems to think that the only way to physical fitness is to run long distances 3 times a week. Originally the team was excused from this crap...but recently I have been told that on top of my training as a powerlifter I am going to be required to do PT with my unit (run long distances) 3 times a week.

As I have a very high Physical Fitness Test score this is absolutely rediculous. But, nonetheless, I am going to have to be a marathon runner 3 times a week.

My question is, do you all think I will be able to keep training as a lifter, still getting bigger stronger and improving my totals while running my ass of 3 times a week. Also any tips or pointers on how to stay successful as a powerlifter while running so damn much would be of great help. Thanks

I would definitely cut down your volume on the lifting, obviously this running will take a toll on you, but once you get used to it I think you will be fine. Cutting down to 3 days a week training and also on the number of exercises you do will help. And eat more!

"The MArine corps seems to think that the only way to physical fitness is to run long distances 3 times a week."

I hate that shit. 3+ years in and I know exactly what you mean. I have a 299 PFT and have had a 285+ since I went to bootcamp. I am weak as shit outside of running as a result of the USMC's stupid mentality.

As for training, I have been using a westside template...Not sure if thats going to be the way to go anymore. Any ideas on what might work for me now? We run M W F, should I squat on days I dont have to run, or squat on days I have to run to take the next day to recover?

Yea, I have a 260....what really pisses me off is that half the people in the unit dont even have a first class and alot of them fall out of every pt session....but there woried about me gaining weight and not being able to run.

So If Im in combat with a marine that "Pt's" 3 times a week and I get my ass blown off I guess all those 3 mile runs are going to enable him to pick all 215 pounds of me up dead wieght and get me to safety. hes better off running his ass back to post and getting someone who can. Idiots

Instead of doing pure running, you can do short little 10/15 minute scaled crossfit workouts after your max effort lifts. I don't know if this is worse or better than running.

Again, this only works if the crossfit guys at camp pendleton get out of PT, and they are cool with the max effort black box template. It might require a little social engineering as well and pitching the idea to the right people, but if they are giving you resources to start a powerlifting team, it might be worth a shot.

I'd say...run on the days you don't lift for recovery. You won't lose much strength at all running 2-3 miles especially if you've got plenty of quality protein hanging around. Or, if need be, run at least a while after lifting on M and F. Running directly afterward is something you'd do for fat loss... definitely not strength. But good recovery (good shunting of nutrients to repairing muscles) on off days can actually be a great thing for building strength. "Your training is only as good as your recovery." Gear sounds like a fun run. Whoa.

Sorry if you already knew most of the above...

I'd second the looking into Crossfit thing... if only because I started out very interesting in hauling weight (PL) and then became very interested in being able to a) haul weight b) pull my own over a bar and c) do all of this faster, longer, and stronger than everyone else.

No where near where I want to be yet - but lots of great things to look forward to.

That means Heavy days on Tue and Wed, Speed days sat and sun. I have to run M W F No choice. Crossfit is the big craze right now but it is not condusive with my goals, I am a powerlifter. Although it would be much better training for those marines that are PTing only because hey are required to and would be much better for combat preparedness it is not for me. I like the specialized training and focusing on becoming as strong as possible in the 3 lifts.

I don't think 2-3 mile runs are going to affect your lifting much. I run 3-5 miles 5 days a week and still manage to do 3 heavy lifting sessions as well. My strength hasn't suffered at all and I'm still making gains (currently lifting 315/440/530 raw at 210lbs) so I don't think it should be much of an issue for you. After a few months 2-3 mile runs should feel like a warmup for you.

During university I competed at state level in judo and I have some experience with a few top level judo and wrestling teams. Most of us had to train 2-4 hours 6 days a week (drills, sparring and conditioning) and even then most people were able to fit in some strength work. Improving lifts was near impossible but maintaining strength even with doing that much intense cardio is still possible.

lol....hard for a jar head? haha we do twice as much as you all with your hand me down broke as equipment. seriously though I heard that there is a powerlifting MOS (Job Specialty) in the army as well as car racing and shit like that. Is this true? if so, Im tranferring services

lol....hard for a jar head? haha we do twice as much as you all with your hand me down broke as equipment. seriously though I heard that there is a powerlifting MOS (Job Specialty) in the army as well as car racing and shit like that. Is this true? if so, Im tranferring services

Never seen that myself. I know soldiers do get time off if they join the army boxing team.. I'm sure there are other teams as well.

I've served side by side with Marines and no way do you do twice as much. We do, in general, have better gear.

The main differance between the two services is that Marines really do (for the most part) think and act like warriors while only the combat arms in the army do the same.

I find that running in the AM and then doing deads or squats in the PM works for me. We run on Tue, Thur, and Sat. Therefore I do leg work on Tue and Thur, which gives me a full day off (for my legs) on Wed and Friday. Our Sat run is usually sprints and or in gear. I really watch my volume to make sure that I can stay in the top of the company. At 36 that is a matter of pride.

You should get stronger not weaker. 2-3 mile runs are not hard. I'm not in the military so I can't tell you how much other stuff is wearing you out, but a 3 mile run at a moderate pace is 30 minutes, which is what alot of people recommend as general fitness cardio.

The hard part is body size. If your legs are thick from squatting get read for some thigh burn, at least my thighs.

I've been in both the Army and the Navy and sometimes it's just mind-boggling what the services think/teach about PT. They would be better off teaching people how to lift and eat in boot camp than rolling around on the ground and doing flutter-kicks. I got scolded once in the Army for taking some of my people to the gym in the early afternoon. It was better to sit around doing nothing because somebody important might stop by. And working out would make us look...um...unmotivated?

Back on topic - the mileage is low enough that you should be ok. Wonder if they'd be open to doing some intervals?